About Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is a sexually transmitted disease4
and it begins in the Uterine cervix (lower part of the womb or uterus that
opens up into the vagina). It can be non invasive (it is localized and has
not spread) or it can spread to the deeper layers of cervix or to other organs.

What causes it and what are the risk factors?

Tidbit

The married women of rural India are
most at risk for cervical cancers.
3

Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by the Human
Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is sexually transmitted. It affects women
between the ages of 20 and 80, but peaks between 40 and 60 years of age.
4

Risk factors includes increased sexual partners, early age of
first intercourse (under age 20), male partner with multiple partners, smoking
(1.5-3 fold increased risk), immunosuppression, history of sexually transmitted
diseases (STD), lower socioeconomic class, uncircumcised male partner.
50% of cancer patients have not had a pap smear and 10% have not had a pap smear
in the last 5 years.
4

Being a woman and that with a cervix puts you at risk for
cervical cancer. Every year, about 10,520 women in the United States get
cervical cancer1
and India contributes 100,000, i.e. 1/5 of the world
burden".3
In other countries, cervical cancer affects approximately 500,000 women
each year.
1

How is it screened?

A pap smear (pap) is a simple gynecologic procedure done in your
family physician or gynecologist's office. It checks for changes in your
cervical cells. It can detect infection, inflammation, abnormal
cells, pre cancerous or cancer cells.

Pap smear was introduced over 50 years ago and the Thin Prep in
the year 2000. The pap has reduced mortality (death) by 70% since the
1940's, however the mortality rate for the US remains at about 5,000 per years
since the mid 1980's.

American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that a woman
who has a cervix or is sexually active should have a pap smear at least every 3
years.5
American
Cancer Society recommends pap annually starting at age 18 or when
sexually active; after 2 to 3 normal (negative) tests, continue at discretion of
physician. Regular testing after age 65 may be discontinued if results
have been consistently normal. Individual risks must be evaluated by your
primary care physician.

This service is designed for educational
purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for
personal medical attention, diagnosis or hands-on treatment. If you are
concerned about your health or that of a child's, please consult your family's
health care provider immediately.